Whoa. Amazing news! Could You Hug a Cactus? was selected as the gold medal winner in its category for the 2016 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards! It’s amazing to see the book recognized, and to put a gold foil sticker on the arm of this prickly bad boy. Thank you!
Happy Independence Day, friends! The poem below, “Sounds”, gained so much heart once Spencer added his pencil illustration to it. It’s pretty amazing how much more meaningful it is thanks to his care and talents.
Hoping you all have a safe and fun July 4th holiday!
Jen, over at Real Mom of SFV did a book review of Could You Hug a Cactus? today and had some amazing things to say about the book!
It’s nerve-racking to send your book out for review. As much as I believe in this book and I’m proud of it, I’m still putting it in someone else’s hands, under someone else’s microscope and getting someone else’s honest opinion. Luckily for us, Jen seems to have liked it!
Again, the process of getting Cactus out into the world is slow-going at times, but when we’re able to get feedback like this, it makes the waiting and the regular effort so rewarding.
In addition to her book review, RealMomOfSFV is also giving away 2 signed copies of the book so head over to RealMomOfSFV for a chance to win!
Thank you, Jen!
Spencer and I did a Q&A with Ruby at Westside Mommy and it just went up HERE. She asked some great questions about the difference between living in Michigan and California through the lens of the book – accepting and loving someone even when it is difficult.
Spencer also made clear his total man-crush on Ryan Gosling. All in all, I’d say that’s a win. There’s also a giveaway for free signed copies of Could You Hug a Cactus? Check it out!
…Author visits!
Thanks to Dan Dabrowski at Stadium Drive Elementary, Gregg Valley at Orion Oaks, and Leah Karagosian at Pontiac’s ATAP, I was able to spend some time back in Michigan to share Cactus and speak to a whole lot of amazing students before the school year ended. This was an amazing opportunity and I’m so glad I got the chance to go!
If you’d like to learn more about my author visits, or reach out about scheduling one for your school or a school you know, you can check out my Author Visits page.
“But the world is so big
And I am so small”
Is just an excuse
to do nothing at all.
You are so much stronger
Than even you know
So get up and get out
and go, go, go, go!
What an awesome surprise today! Amazon named Could You Hug a Cactus? their #1 New Release in our category! (Children’s Humorous Poetry)
Considering how much I shop on Amazon for everything from home goods to groceries to books and media, seeing my book recognized to some degree on the site is kind of surreal. Just another example of the world opening up it’s arms!
Thanks, Amazon! Thanks, world!
There’s a thing on our swing!
He was not invited
But he’s swinging and singing
And getting excited.
He’s clearly unclear
That this is our yard.
What creature would show
Such a bold disregard?
He’s too big for the swing
And I’m worried he’ll break it.
The crossbar is bending
And I just can’t take it.
He is large and he’s strange
But he’s clearly naive
And he’s got to go.
Go tell him to leave.
Could You Hug a Cactus? is officially on sale in downtown LA at Hennessey+Ingalls, the largest art, architecture, and design bookstore in the western US!
But why is our book in an art and architecture bookstore?
In good company!
Well, according to Brett Hennessey (the founder’s grandson and store manager), due to the closing of so many physical bookstores, customers are finding it harder and harder to find other types of books in local stores. Due to this reason, Hennessey+Ingalls expanded to include both cookbooks with exceptional photography and children’s books with exceptional art. After looking at Could You Hug a Cactus?, he decided that it would fit right in among their other beautiful children’s books, a testament to the amazing talents and hard work by Spencer.
We’re so happy to have our book available at such an esteemed bookseller. The process and the reach of Cactus continues to grow and we couldn’t be prouder.
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